"Novela histórica sobre los últimos días del general Rafael Leonidas Trujillo en la República Dominicana en 1961. El hilo conductor de la novela es el retorno a la isla de Urania Cabral, hija de un senador del régimen trujillista, luego de muchos años de la muerte del dictador. Mientras Urania visita a su padre moribundo, la narración reconstruye el fin de una era haciendo un recuento de una serie de personajes históricos, entre ellos, el sempiterno presidente de la República Dominicana, Joaquín Balaguer y ascenso político. La crueldad del poder y la maldad humana destacan en este gran relato, una de las mejores novelas del novelista peruano". --Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.

A 49 year old expatriate Urania Cabral living a life of emptiness and terrorizing memories is finaly returning to her native Dominican Republic to face her nightmares. The year is 1961, the pick of a brutal and horrifying regime lead by Rafael Trujillo, an ailing but still powerful and degenerate dictator. He is called the Goat by the nation of 3 million. Little she knows that despite all the ever present oppresion, cowardice and invigilation there is a conspiracy brewing against the Goat.

In this fast paced narrative, masterfuly constructed by Llosa in a typical multilevel, entwining byplays you will find yourself in the world of horror, deception, violence and bloody clashes. It is also a kaleidoscope of human characters, demeanour and decissions in confrontation with a brutal and complex reality.
Extraordinary literature. Fantastic material for a movie adaptation.